Loom harness



y 1963 R. N. SUHR ETAL 3,

LOOM HARNESS Filed Aug. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. Robert N. Suhr Robert M. Goodman, Jr.

A TTORNEY July 9, 1963 R. N. SUHR ETAL LOOM HARNESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 INVENTORS. Robert N. Suhr Robert M. Goodman, Jr: BY

ZTTORNEY ter 3,096,793 Patented July 9, 1963 ice \ 3,096,793 V LOOM HARNESS Robert N. Suhr and Robert M. Goodman, Jr., Marietta, Ga., assignors to Pioneer Heddle and Reed Company, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 218,030 14 Claims. (Cl. 139-92) This invention relates to a loom harness and is more particularly concerned with a heddle frame having a novel heddle rod fastening device cooperating with the ends of the heddle rods of the frame.

In the past, many spring members have been suggested for the purpose of releasably locking aheddle rod by its. ends to a heddle frame. Certain heddle frames have had spring members which must be pivoted out of the plane of the frame for disengagement from the beddle rod. With continued use, the pivot pins for these spring members become worn, loosening the spring member sufficiently that the outward bias of the spring member is lost.

Certain of the prior art devices have spring members with tongues which align with keyhole type slots in the ends of the heddle rod and are hence difiicul-t to disengage, the spring members being incapable of positively li-mitingvertical movement of the heddle rod. Still other heddle frames, while having notches along the bottom edges of the heddle rods for receiving the spring members, must have channel shaped heddle rods and provide only edge-to-edge abutment between the spring member and the heddle rod.

Substantially all of the prior art devices either do not allow for progressive take-up of the spring member as the cooperating elements wear or are extremely difiicult to manipulate so as to release the heddle rod from the spring member. It has, therefore, been common practice in the trade for a workman to wedge an instrument between the spring member and the end brace to provide sufiioient leverage for moving the spring member inwardly, thereby aligning the opening, slot, aperture or hole in the end of the heddle rod with the cooperating element on the spring member to permit disengagement of the two members.

Briefly described, the present invention which overcomes the disadvantages described above includes a conventional heddle frame having end braces connected to the ends of the top and bottom transverse rails. The usual heddle supporting rods or bars are carried within the frame so as to receive the heddles thereon. In the inner corner portions of the frames are the spring members which are fixed by their base ends to the end braces so as to remain at all times in the plane of the frame.

The spring members are biased outwardly and cooprate' in a' wedging manner with the divergent lower edge portions or Walls of the heddle rods. The upper ends of the spring members have horizontally disposed levers for receiving the fingers of a workman and for translating vertical force applied by the workman into a horizontal force which overcomes the outward bias on the spring member and permits alignment of a portion of the spring member with a notch in the heddle rod wherebytlie heddle rod may be removed from the spring member. In one embodiment, there is a lever Which cooperates with the spring member for releasably holding the spring member in a disengaging position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide in a loom harness a heddle frame havinga spring member which may be readily and easily engaged and disengaged from the end portion of a heddle rod.

Another object of the present invention is .to provide in a loom harness a heddle frame in which there is full surface contact between the spring member and the heddle rod, the spring member and heddle rod being so arranged as to permit automatic take-up when wear occurs therebetween and in which a transverse shifting of the heddle rod will not materially effect the holding action of the spring member.

Another object of the present invention is to provid in a loom harness a heddle frame having a spring member and a heddle rod firmly interlocked togther and in which only slight movement of the spring member will permit disengagement of the heddle rod from the spring member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a loom harness a heddle frame in which the spring members provide the entire support for the ends of the heddle rods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a loom harness a heddle frame in which the space between the outer edges of the heddle rods are accurately fixed with respect to the frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in a loom harness, a spring member for engaging the end of a heddle rod, the spring member being freely movable (against spring bias) in the plane of the heddle frame, and yet firmly secured against movement outside of the heddle frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a loom harness a heddle frame which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and efiicient in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following de scription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a loom harness constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the spring member of the loom harness shown in FIG. 1. g

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the %pper left hand corner of the loom harness shown in FIG. 4 is a still further enlarged fragmentary, partially broken away front elevational view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 3. 7

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a detail showing a modified form of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing an other modification of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the lever mechanism of the device shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the lever mechanism shown FIG. 9.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects the present invention is not limited to the exact details herein depicted, numeral 10 denotes generally the heddle'frame of the loom harness which includes a pair of spaced, parallel, transverse rails, namely, the wooden top rail 11 and the wooden bottom rail 12. The ends of the rails 11 and 12 are joined to complete the frame 10 by means of metal end braces 13 and 14. Each end brace, such as brace 13, includes a pair of flat juxtaposed brace members 15 and 16, the outer brace member 15 being bent inwardly adjacent its ends to provide flanges 17 and 18 which overlap the upper edge of the end portion of upper rail 11 and the lower edge of the end portion of lower rail 12, respectively.

Likewise, the inner brace member 16 is bent inwardly adjacent its ends to provide flanges =19 and 20 to overlap the lower edge of the end portion of upper rail 11 and the upper edge of the end portion of the lower rail 12, as seen in FIG. 1. Wood screws (not shown) hold the flanges 17, 18, 19 and 20 in place.

Within the heddle frame are a pair of flat, rectangular, vertically spaced, parallel heddle rods 21 and 22 which are spaced inwardly from and parallel to the upper and lower rails 11 and 12, respectively. In most instances, the heddle rods 21 and 22 are supported from rails 11 and 12 along their central or intermediate portions by supports, such as supports 23 and 24. The heddle rods 21 and 22 in turn provide the sole support for a plurality of heddles 25 which are freely slidable thereon. Each heddle rod 21 or 22 is a flat rectangular member having parallel inner and outer edges 27 and 34, the ends, such as end 37 of the heddle rods 21 and 22, terminating inwardly of the end braces 13 and 14.

The structure thus far described is essentially conventional and hence a more detailed description is not deemed necessary. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the art that the heddle frame 10' is symmetrical.

According to the present invention, the inner edges 27 adjacent the ends of rods 21 and 22 are provided with notches or recesses 30 which cooperate with spring members 40, the spring members 40 projecting upwardly and downwardly from the central portions of the end braces 13 and 14. All notches 30 and spring members 40 are similar in construction and hence the following description of the upper left hand arrangement of the heddle rod 21, its notch 30, and its associated spring member 40 will suflice.

The spring member 40, as seen in FIG. 3, is formed of a flat bar of spring steel bent at its lower end to provide a base 41 which is secured by mechanical fasteners 42 or other suitable means to the inner surface of the inner brace member 16, below the upper heddle rod 21. Thence, the spring member 40 extends upwardly and inwardly to provide a shank portion 43, the upper end of which is bent to provide a body 44 about parallel to the end brace 13. It will be seen that by such an arrangement the body 44 is spaced inwardly from the end brace 13.

The upper end of the body 44 is bent abruptly inwardly so as to form a ledge or lever 45 which is about perpendicular to the body 44 and hence about parallel to the upper rail 11. The end of lever 45 is turned upward to provide an upstanding finger guard 46 which terminates slightly below the plane of the lower edge of upper rail 11.

As seen in FIG. 5, the lever is tapered, having inwardly converging edges '47 and 48 and is provided, in its central portion, with an axial slot 49 which is open toward the end brace 13 by extending into the upper end portion of the body 44. Thus, the slot 49 is adapted to receive the outer end portion of a stub shaft or finger 50 which projects inwardly from the brace member 16 above the heddle rod 21. The function of the finger 5G is to prevent movement of the spring member 40 out of the plane of the frame 10, even when severe acceleration forces are applied to the loom harness.

The lever 45 is sufficiently wide that at least two fingers may fit thereon, between guard 46 and brace member 16. Thus, by pressing inwardly against guard 46 or downwardly against lever 45, the spring member may be moved against its tension in an inward direction.

The interlocking mechanism which cooperates with the notches includes a somewhat C-shaped receiving recess 51, seen best in FIG. 2, formed in the body 44 of the spring member 40 below lever 45. The recess 51 is defined by an upper, straight, horizontal shoulder 52 extending from the front edge of the spring member 40 inwardly to about 52 is an abutment edge 53 disposed perpendicular thereto and extending downwardly therefrom by a distance slightly less than the width of the heddle rod 21. At the lower corner of edge 53 is outwardly bevelled bearing ledge 54 which extends outwardly by a distance equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the heddle rod 21 whereat an upstanding retainer block 55- protrudes above the surface of ledge 54.

Referring now to the notch 30, it will be seen in FIG. 4 that notch 39 includes a disengagement recess and clamping recess outwardly of the disengagement recess. The disengagement recess is a downwardly opening, U-shaped slot defined by a pair of spaced vertical walls 31 and 32 and web 33 joining the upper ends of walls 31 and 32. The space between walls 31 and 32 exceeds the thickness of the spring member 40, i.e. the thickness of the upstanding block 55, while the distance from shoulder 52 to the upper surface of block 55 exceeds the distance from web 33 to the upper edge 34 of the heddle rod 21. Therefore, when body 44 is transversely aligned with the disengaging recess, the end portion of heddle rod 21 may be moved into or out of the recess in body 44.

At the end of wall 32 is a straight, downwardly and outwardly extending wall 35 which diverges outwardly toward the end 37 of heddle rod 21, with respect to edge 34, and hence forms an acute angle with respect to end 37. The wall 35 forms an angle of approximately 14 with respect to the axis of the heddle rod 21 so as to correspond to the bevel of ledge 54. Thus, the wall 35 defines a wedging recess which receives the ledge 54 when the spring member 40 moves outwardly.

It is to be understood that the spring member 40 is biased outwardly or toward the end brace 13 and, in the preferred construction, the end 37 is spaced from the inner surface of end strut 13. Therefore, when the end portion of heddle rod 21 is received within the recess of the spring member 40, and the spring member 40' is released, the ledge 54, acting upon wall 35, will tend to urge the end portion of heddle rod 21 upwardly such that the upper edge 34 is urged against the shoulder 52 of the recess.

It is now seen that the irregular shape of the notch 30, created at the end portion of heddle rod 21, provides a vertical throat area of reduced width between the web 33 and outer edge 34 of heddle rod 21, the throat areas being transverse to the axis of heddle rod 21 and being spaced inwardly of the end 37. Outwardly of the throat area there is an abrupt widening of the heddle rod 21 intermediate the throat area and end 37 caused by the offset between the inner end of wall 35 and the outer end of web 33. Outwardly of the abruptly widened intermediate area, the heddle rod progressively widens until, at its end 37, the heddle rod 21 is again essentially as wide as the central portion of the heddle rod 21.

The distance between widest portion of recess 51, i.e. between ledge 54 and shoulder 52, corresponds generally to the width of the intermediate area described above, while the distance between the narrow portion of recess 51, i.e. between the upper surface of block 55 and shoulder 52, is greater than the width of the throat area. Hence, when the end portion of the heddle rod 21 is received in the recess 51 and recess 51 is transversely aligned with the throat area, transverse movement of the end of the heddle rod 21 results in disengagement of the heddle rod from spring rnemebr 40, and when the end portion of heddle rod 21 is within the recess 51 and the spring member 40 is released, the spring bias of spring member 40 urges it outwardly into clamping or interlocking engagement with the heddle rod 21 as the spring member becomes aligned with the intermediate area of heddle 21.

The angle subtended between the axis of heddle rod 21 and the wall 35 should not be less than 12 since at that angle and at lesser angles there is a wedging action which renders the wall 35 and ledge 54 self locking or difficult to disengage. On the other hand, if an angle in excess of about 16 is provided for the slope of wall 35, the wall 35 and ledge 54 are essentially self releasing and may permit the spring member 4% and heddle rod 21 to vibrate under acceleration or harmonic forces.

It is now seen that the wall 35 and ledge 54 provide camming surfaces which are self holding. By such an arrangement, there need be little movement by the spring member 40 between its interlocked position and its releasing position.

In the interlocked position, as best seen in FIG. 4, the end of heddle rod 21 is firmly clamped or locked with respect to the spring member 46) while the movement of the spring member 49 by a distance of approximately the width of the spring member, or slightly more, will position spring member 41} in its releasing or disengaging position in alignment with the disengaging notch.

Upon wear between the heddle rod 21 and the spring member 40, the spring member 40 seats progressively outwardly which still maintains a firm clamping action on the end portion of the heddle rod 21. The broad surfact to surface contact between ledge 54 and wall 35, coupled with the self holding characteristics of the engagement, however, substantially reduces the possibility of such wear.

When disengaging or engaging the heddle rod 21 and spring member 4%, it will be understood that the operator simply places his fingers upon the lever 45 and exerts an initial inward force on the guard 46. This force, essentially parallel to the axis of the heddle rod 21, tends to break the self holding engagement of the wall 35 so that thereafter a downward force on the lever 45 will cause pivoting inwardly about base 41 and against the outward spring bias of spring member 4i until the block 54- is aligned with the disengaging recess.

It will be seen in FIG. 4 that the distance from ledge 54 to shoulder 52 is less than the width of the heddle rod 21. Therefore, upon inward urging of the spring member 40 (the spring member 49 and heddle rod 21 being engaged), the wall 31 limits the inward movement of the spring member 4% and positively aligns the block 54 and the disengaging notch. Since the slot or notch 30 is along the bottom or inner edge of the heddle rod 21, it does not interfere with the sliding of the heddles on and off of the heddle rod 21.

The body 44, being pivotally mounted by base 41 to end brace 13 at a position remote from the heddle rod 21, remains essentially perpendicular to the axis of heddle rod 21 at all times. When the end portion of heddle rod 21 is received within the recess 51, a vertical surface area along the back portion of the heddle rod 21 rests against the abutment edge 53 while the block 54 overlaps a portion of the front of heddle rod 21, as seen in FIG. 3. In this engaged position, the lever 45 is spaced approximately midway between the upper edge 34 of heddle rod 21 and the lower edge of the flange H.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, it will be seen that, if desired, the bevelled ledge 154 may be for-med by punching body 144 to impart an outward taper of about 7 thereto, coupled with an outward bending of the ledge portion and block 155 through an additional 7, indicated by angle ,8. Thus, the ledge 154 is provided with a 14 andgle a with respect to the axis or parallel upper and lower edges of the heddle bar 121. The remaining structure of the spring member 140 is otherwise identical to spring member 40 and functions in the same way, the ledge 154 cooperating with the wall 135 which is identical to wall 35.

While the walls 31 and 32 of the previous embodiment are parallel to end 37, the walls 131 and 132 angle upwardly and outwardly, essentially parallel to each other, and converge slightly toward end 137. Thus, when the spring member 149 is moved inwardly against spring bias, the block 155 will be aligned with the notch defined by walls 131, 132 and 133 and upon movement of the end portion of heddle rod 121 out of the plane of the heddle frame, this notch passing over block 155 in a manner substantially identical to the disengagement of the heddle rod 30 and spring member 40.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that, in either the construction shown in FIGS. 1-5 or the construction shown in FIG. 6, downward force on the lever, such as lever 45, at the upper end of either spring member 40 or serves to move the spring member outwardly against spring bias until the block 54 or 154 is aligned with its disengaging recess. The lever 45, however, is spaced sufficiently above the heddle rod 21 or 121 that it does not interfere with the sliding movement of the heddles thereon, i.e. the upper ends of the heddles may pass below lever 45. The lever 45- is sufficiently below the rail, such as rail 11, to permit ready access thereto by the fingers of a person.

Referring now to the embodiments of FIGS. 7 through 10, the heddle frame 10 includes end braces or struts, such as brace 13' having brace members 15 and 16' with flanges, such as flange 19" connected to the rails, such as rail 11, the fname 10 supporting heddle rods, such as rod 21' provided with notches, such as notch 30, all constructed and arranged in the manner described for the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of FIGS; 7 through 10, the spring member 40' has a base 41 secured by rivets 42" to the inner surface of the end brace 13 below the heddle rod 21'. The shank 43 of spring member 40 extends upwardly and inwardly from the upper end of base 4 -1, so as to diverge from the end brace 13" as shown in FIG. 7. The upper end of shank 43' is bent at numeral 61 to provide a lower body portion 64 which extends outwardly at approximately 14 with respect to the vertical centerline of frame 10' and is then bent inwardly at numeral 63 to provide an upright upper body portion 44'. Body portions 44 and 64 are provided with a sidewise opening, C-shaped, slot or recess 51' defined by an essentially vertically disposed abutment edge 53 which is adapted: to receive, thereagainst, the side surf-ace of heddle rod 21". The slot 51' is defined at its upper extremity by a horizontally extending shoulder 52' in body portion 44', the shoulder 52 being recessed at its junction with edge 53 to provide a downwardly opening, edge receiving notch 62' approximately the width of heddle rod 21. Likewise, slot 51' is defined at its lower extremity by a shoulder or arresting block 55' in body portion 64', the shoulder 55' having an upwardly opening recess 54' opposite recess 62.

In a manner similar to the previous embodiment, the upper end of body 44' is bent outwardly to provide a leverlike arm 45' which extends inwardly about parallel to upper edge 34' of the heddle rod 21". The end of arm 45 is bent upwardly to provide an endmember 46' which terminates below the flange 19. An outwardly opening slot 49' in arm 46 cooperates with a pin 50 protruding inwardly from brace member 16, the pin 50" preventing transverse movement of the spring member 40' while permitting the spring member 40' to be moved from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 7 to the broken line position shown therein. The lower end portion of base 40" is bent inwardly to provide a latch retainer plate 38'. V

For moving the spring member 40 to its broken line position in FIG. 7, we have provided a lever, denoted generally by numeral 70'. The lever 70' isre'ceived through a slot 71' in the central portion of shank 43''. The lever 70' is formed from a narrow flat length of spring stock which is cut away on opposite sides to provide a lower oval shaped handle 72' having a shank 73'. The upper end of shank 73" is connected to the end of a body member 74' in offset relationship by a link 75' so that the shank 73' and body 74' lie in offset parallel relationship. The upper portion of body member 74' is substantially wider than its lower portion to thereby provide an outwardly and upwardly extending shoulder 76 above link 75' in about the central portion of the outer side of body member 74'.

' The upper end of body member 74 is rounded to pro vide a camend 77 notched at its inner corner to provide a shoulder 78'. The distance between shoulders 76' and 78' is approximately the same as or slightly less than the width of slot 71 whereby the lever 70' may be received in an essentially upright position with shoulder 76 resting on that portion of shank 43 which defines the lower end of slot 71.

In the upper portion of body member 74 is a trunnion pin 79' which extends transversely through body member 7-4 so as to protrude on opposite sides thereof.

The lower portion of lever 70' is bent slightly, in one direction from its vertical centrline as seen in MG. 10, so that shank 73 is biased when received in recess 39, as will be explained hereinafter.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the device shown in FIGS. 7 through 10 should be apparent. The upper portion of lever 70' is always between the spring member 40' and the end brace 13 while the lower portion of lever 70 is inwardly of spring member 46'. To disengage the lever 70, the handle is urged against its bias, sidewise out of recess 38 and then pulled inwardly and upwardly in an arcuate path until the lever 70 is essentially horizontal, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 7. This causes the end 77 to slide downwardly along the inner surface of brace member 16 as the trunnion pin 79" acts against the outer surface of shank 43', thereby urging spring member 4A) inwardly to its broken line position.

The dimensions of lever 70 are such that, when arranged horizontally, the lever 70' spaces the upper portion of spring member 40' a predetermined distance from the end brace 13" so as to align transversely the throat of the heddle rod v21 and the recess 51 for the engaging or disengaging operation.

When the end 77 and trunnion pin 79" act as a cam member which urges the spring member 40' and the frame, i.e. the end brace 13', apart, and lever 70 approaches its horizontal position, the end 77' and 79 pass beyond their position of maximum spacing and hence permit a toggle action to take place whereby the spring member moves toward the end brace 13' slightly, as the upper edge of the lever 70" comes into engagement with that portion of spring member 40" defining the upper end of slot 71. Thus, the upper end of slot 71 acts as a means for limiting further movement of the lever 70' and the lever 70' may be released by the operator, the lever 70 being in a position of rest in which lever 70' remans essentially horizontal. The operators hands are thereby freed for the task of removing the end portion of heddle rod 21' and installing or removing the heddles.

It will be understood that by reinserting the end portion of heddle rod 21' in recess 51', and by pivoting lever 70' to its vertical position, the spring member 46" again clamps the end portion of rod 21.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims.

We claim: a

1. In a loom harness of the type having a heddle frame provided with an end brace and a rail connected to said end brace, and a heddle rod adjacent said rail, the combination therewith of a spring member secured to said end brace and provided with a receiving recess for receiving the end portion of said heddle rod, said end portion of said heddle rod having a pair of outwardly diverging surfaces extending from a narrowed portion of said heddle rod, said receiving recess being defined by a pair of opposed walls having a pair of outwardly diverging surfaces for cooperating with said diverging surfaces of said heddle rod, said spring member being yieldably biased outwardly for urging said opposed walls against said diverging surfaces of said heddle rod when said end portion is received therebetween for clamping said end portion of said heddle rod in said receiving recess, said spring member being movable inwardly for aligning said receiving recess with said narrowed portion of said heddle rod.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said diverging surfaces of said heddle rod subtend an angle of from 12 to 16 and wherein the portion of said spring member which contains the recess is essentially perpendicular to one of said diverging surfaces of said heddle rod.

3. In a loom harness of the type having a heddle frame provided with an end brace and a rail connected to said end brace, and a heddle rod adjacent said rail, the combination therewith of a spring member secured to said end brace and provided with a receiving recess for receiving the end porton of said heddle rod, said end portion of said heddle rod having a pair of outwardly diverging surfaces extending from a narrowed portion of said heddle rod, said receiving recess being defined by a pair of opposed walls having a pair of outwardly diverging surfaces for cooperating with said diverging surfaces of said heddle rod, said spring member being yieldably biased outwardly for urging said opposed walls against said diverging surfaces of said heddle rod when said end portion is received therebetween for clamping said end portion of said heddle rod in said receiving recess, said spring member being movable inwardly for aligning said receiving recess with said narrowed portion of said heddle rod, and lever means extending from said spring member for facilitating the movement of said spring member inwardly.

4. In a loom harness of the type having a heddle frame provided with an end brace and an upper rail connected to said end brace, and a heddle rod below said upper rail, the combination herewith of a spring member secured to said end brace below said heddle rod and provided with a receiving'recess for receiving the end portion of said heddle rod, said end portion of said heddle rod being provided with a pair of outwardly diverging edges and a disengaging notch at the inner end of one of said diverging edges, said disengaging notch penetrating into said heddle rod by a substantial distance beyond said one of said diverging edges, said receiving recess being defined by a pair of opposed walls, and a block at the end of one of said opposed walls, said opposed walls having a pair of outwardly diverging surfaces for cooperating with said diverging edges of said heddle rod, said spring member being yieldably biased outwardly for urging said opposed walls against said diverging edges of said heddle rod when said end portion is received therebetween for clamping said end portion of said heddle rod in said receiving recess, said spring member being movable inwardly for aligning said block with said disengaging recess so that said end portion may be moved out of engagement with said spring member.

5. In a loom harness of the type having a heddle frame provided with an end brace and an upper rail connected to said end brace, and a heddle rod below said upper rail, the combination herewith of a spring member secured by one end to an intermediate portion of said end brace below said heddle rod and provided with a receiving recess for receiving the end portion of said heddle rod, the other end of said spring member terminating between said heddle rod and said upper rail, said end portion of said heddle rod being provided with a pair of outwardly diverging edges, and a disengaging notch at the inner end of one of said diverging edges, said disengaging notch penetrating into said heddle rod by a substantial distance beyond said one of said diverging edges, said receiving recess being defined by a pair of opposed walls, and a block at the end of one of said opposed walls, said opposed w-alls having a pair of outwardly diverging surfaces for cooperating with said diverging edges of said heddle rod, said spring member being yieldably biased outwardly for urging said opposed walls against said diverging edges of said heddle rod when said end portion is received therebetween for clamping said end portion of said heddle rod in said receiving recess, said spring member being movable inwardly for aligning said block with said disengaging recess so that said end portion may be moved out of engagement with said spring member, and a lever connected to said other end of said spring member, said lever extending inwardly between said upper rail and said heddle rod and being sufiiciently spaced therefrom that a persons fingers may fit between said upper rail and said lever and the upper ends of the heddles may pass between said heddle rod and said lever.

6. In a loom harness of the type wherein a frame, having end braces and spaced parallel rails extending between the ends of said end braces, carries a pair of heddle rods in spaced relationship parallel to said rails, the heddies being slidably supported between said heddle rods, the combination therewith of a plurality of outwardly biased spring members respectively engaging the end portions of said heddle rods, each of said spring members including a base fixed to an intermediate portion of an end brace, a body connected to said base and extending from said base toward a rail and beyond the end portion of its associated heddle rod, a lever extending inwardly from the end of said body between its associated heddle rod and said r-ail, a guard on the end of said lever extending from said lever toward said rail, said lever being of a length sufiicient to receive thereon at least two fingers of a workman, said lever being tapered inwardly, said lever having an outwardly opening slot therein, a pin carried by said end brace and projecting into said slot, said body having a receiving recess for receiving said end portion of said heddle rod, said end portion having a notch along an edge remote from said rail for cooperating with said receiving recess in said body, said recess being defined by a straight upper shoulder, an abutment edge extending perpendicularly to said shoulder from the inner end of said shoulder, the length of said abutment edge being less than the width of said heddle rod, and an outwardly bevelled ledge at the lower end of said abutment edge and in opposite relationship to said shoulder and a block at the end of said ledge extending toward said shoulder, said notch including a U-shaped disengaging recess defined by a pair of spaced opposed parallel walls and a Web connecting the ends of said opposed walls, and a clamping recess defined by a straight edge diverging from the axis of said heddle rod, said disengaging recess being deeper than said clamping recess, the distance from said block to said shoulder being greater than the distance from said web to the outer edge of said heddle bar to permit that portion of said heddle rod between said web and said upper edge to be received in said recess of said body when said body is aligned therewith, said spring member being biased outwardly and being so dimensioned that, when said heddle bar is received within said recess, said spring member will urge said ledge into engagement with said diverging edge and thereby urge said upper edge of said heddle rod against said shoulder.

7. In a loom harness of the type having a rectangular frame with a spring member carried by said frame at one corner portion thereof for engaging and holding the end portion of a heddle rod, said spring member being movable to a disengaging position with respect to said heddle rod, the combination therewith of camming means carried by said spring member and engageable with said frame for urging said spring member into said disengaging posi tion upon actuation of said means.

8. In a loom harness of the type having a rectangular frame with a spring member carried by said frame at one corner portion thereof for engaging and holding the end portion of a heddle rod, said spring member being movable to a disengaging position with respect to said heddle rod, the combination therewith of camming means carried by said spring member and engageable with said frame for urging said spring member into said disengaging position upon actuation of said means, said means including a lever carried by said spring member and having one end engageable with said frame, and a trunnion spaced from said end and projecting through said lever for engaging said spring member intermediate the ends of the spring member, the other end of said lever being arranged on the opposite side of said spring means from said one end.

9. In a loom harness of the type having a rectangular frame with a spring member carried by said frame at one corner portion thereof for engaging and holding the end portion of a heddle rod, said spring member being movable to a disengaging position with respect to said heddle rod, the combination therewith of a lever disposed between said frame and said spring member for simultaneously engaging said frame and said spring member to move said spring member from its position holding said end portion to said disengaging position upon actuation of said lever.

10. In a loom harness of the type wherein a spring member on the frame of the harness removably supports the end portion of a heddle rod, the spring member being biased into engagement with said end portion and being movable against its bias into a disengaging position such that relative movement between said spring member and said end portion frees said end portion from said spring member, the combination therewith of a lever carried by said spring member and engageable with said frame for moving said spring member to its disengaging position.

11. In a loom harness of the type wherein a spring member diverges from the inner side of the side rail of the harness and removably engages the end portion of a heddle rod, the spring member being biased into engagement with said end portion and being movable against its bias into a disengaging position such that relative movement between said spring member and said end portion frees said end portion from said spring member, the combination therewith of a lever protruding through a slot in said spring member such that one end portion of said lever is positioned between said side rail and said spring and the other portion forms a handle by which said lever, and trunnion means carried by said lever and engaging said spring member for forming the fulcrum of said lever, the length of said one end portion of said lever being such that in one predetermined position of said lever, the end of said one end portion engages said side rail to hold said spring in said disengaging position, said lever being pivotable from said one predetermined position so as to release said spring member from its disengaging position.

12. In a loom harness of the type wherein a spring member diverges from the inner side of the side rail of the harness and removably engages the end portion of a heddle rod, the spring member being biased into engagement with said end portion and being movable against its bias into a disengaging position such that relative movement between said spring member and said end portion frees said end portion from said spring member, the combination therewith of a lever protruding through a slot in said spring member such that one end portion of said lever is positioned between said side rail and said spring and the other portion forms a handle by which said lever may be manipulated, trunnion means carried by said lever and engaging said spring member for forming the fulcrum of said lever, the length of said one end portion of said lever being such that in one predetermined position of said lever, the end of said one end portion engages said side rail to hold said spring in said disengaging position, said lever being pivotable from said one predetermined position so as to release said spring member from its disengaging position, the lower end of said spring member being provided with a sidewise opening recess 1 1 for receiving the other end portion of said lever, said lever being biased sidewise when received in said recess.

13. In a loom harness of the type having a heddle frame provided with an end brace and a rail connected to said end brace, and a heddle rod adjacent said rail, the combination therewith of a spring member secured to said end brace and provided with means thereon for engaging the end portion of said heddle rod, said end portion of said heddle rod having a pair of diverging surfaces extending from a narrowed portion of said heddle rod, said means being defined by a pair of opposed walls having a pair of diverging surfaces corresponding generally to said diverging surfaces of said heddle rod for wedging action with respect thereto, said spring member being yieldably biased for urging said opposed walls against said diverging surfaces of said heddle rod when said end portion is engaged therewith for wedging said end portion to said heddle rod and said means together, said spring member being movable against said spring bias for aligning said means with a portion of said heddle rod in which there is sufficient space between the respective diverging surfaces of said spring member and said heddle rod for disengagement of said heddle rod and said means.

14. The structure defined in claim 13 wherein said diverging surfaces of said heddle rod subtend an angle of from 12 to 16 with respect to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 419,382 Thompson Jan. 14, 1890 2,445,107 Drake July 13, 1948 2,556,468 Consoletti June 12, 1951 2,560,512 Kaufmann July 10, 1951 2,722,949 Kaufmann Nov. 9', 1955 2,827,079 Kaufmann Mar. 18, 1958 2,896,672 Kaufmann July 28, 1959 2,981,293 Nussbaum Apr. 25, 1961 

1. IN A LOOM HARNESS OF THE TYPE HAVING A HEDDLE FRAME PROVIDED WITH AN END BRACE AND A RAIL CONNECTED TO SAID END BRACE, AND A HEDDLE ROD ADJACENT SAID RAIL, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A SPRING MEMBER SECURED TO SAID END BRACE AND PROVIDED WITH A RECEIVING RECESS FOR RECEIVING THE END PORTION OF SAID HEDDLE ROD, SAID END PORTION OF SAID HEDDLE ROD HAVING A PAIR OF OUTWARDLY DIVERGING SURFACES EXTENDING FROM A NARROWED PORTION OF SAID HEDDLE ROD, SAID RECEIVING RECESS BEING DENIED BY A PAIR OF OPPOSED WALLS HAVING A PAIR OF OUTWARDLY DIVERGING SURFACES FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID DIVERGING SURFACES 